Sustainable development

Sustainable development remains a key priority for the MPA. The year 2023 marked a decisive turning point in this area, with the announcement of ambitious objectives aimed to reduce the carbon footprint, adapt to climate change, protect the territory and improve the city-port interface. On the strength of its best practices, the Port of Montreal earned a perfect performance ranking in the Green Marine Performance Report 2022.

Protecting the environment

From preserving air and water quality to reducing GHG emissions and protecting the natural ecosystem, the MPA is carrying out initiatives on a number of fronts. Strategic cooperation agreements, shifting to more sustainable fuels, strict targets and cutting-edge tools are the keys to achieving our ambitious goals.

Getting to carbon neutrality

In 2023, the Port of Montreal announced its goal to become carbon neutral by 2035, as well as its participation in The Net-Zero Challenge run by the federal government, alongside the ports of Quebec and Trois-Rivières. As part of this commitment, Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions for which the MPA is fully responsible, including rail operations on its intermodal network, management of its buildings and vehicle fleet, and infrastructure work, will be reduced by 55% by 2030, and carbon neutrality achieved by 2035. Scope 3 GHG emissions for which the MPA is not entirely responsible, specifically those generated by logistics companies located on Port territory, ships and trucks, will be reduced by 40% by 2040, to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Protecting Port territory

In a move to further protect biodiversity, the MPA announced that it would protect the biodiversity of territories under its management by 30%. Including projects to improve the resilience of Port infrastructure and to develop redundancies where necessary, a climate change adaptation plan is being fully deployed. The 11 recommendations of the Climate Change Financial Reporting Working Group (CCFRWG) will also be applied.

GHG footprint

Through its electric and LNG bunkering systems, the MPA makes it possible for vessels to reduce their dependence on traditional fuels by providing lower-carbon alternative solutions.

In 2023, a total of 33 connections were made to one of the 43 shore power connection systems available at the Port of Montreal. Of these, 23 were made by wintering ships and 10 by cruise ships, cutting GHG emissions by 1,700 tonnes.

In addition, 30 new liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operations were carried out at the Port, saving nearly 4,200 tonnes of GHG emissions. Since the implementation of this bunkering system at the Port of Montreal in 2017, 175 LNG bunkering operations have been conducted. This represents more than 23,000 tonnes of GHGs avoided, as well as the virtual absence of SOx (99% reduction) and fine particles (90% reduction), along with a substantial reduction in NOx (70%) compared to the use of conventional marine fuels.

Creating a domestic green corridor with Oceanex and QSL

To green one of Eastern Canada’s busiest shipping routes, the MPA, Oceanex and QSL announced their collaboration to create the first domestic green shipping corridor. Used daily between the ports of Montreal and St. John’s, the Quebec-Newfoundland shipping route is one of the busiest shipping routes in Eastern Canada, carrying close to 500,000 tonnes of cargo (containerized and non-containerized) a year, including food products. To eliminate carbon emissions on the shipping route between the two ports, the partners are working on how to implement and use alternative fuels and direct electrification technologies, strengthen information sharing and data transparency, and jointly make representations to government bodies.

Preserving water quality

Five new hydrodynamic separators, acting as stormwater treatment systems, were installed on Port territory in 2023, bringing to 41 the total number of these facilities designed to reduce the discharge of suspended solids and hydrocarbons into the river. At the same time, the MPA also installed a permanent surface water retention basin.

New e-methanol research project

In its efforts to decarbonize shipping, the MPA launched a research project with Innovation maritime, Greenfield Global, Ocean Group, Polytechnique Montréal and Université Laval, which focuses on mitigating the impact of commercial shipping and port activities on the environment and natural and human ecosystems. Over the next two years, the project will identify, characterize and test optimal blends of e-methanol—a 100% decarbonated alternative fuel—and marine diesel for use by vessels operating on the St. Lawrence.

Tree planting

The Port of Montreal began a new five-year tree-planting plan in neighbourhoods adjacent to its facilities. By 2027, a total of 3,000 trees will be planted in the community in partnership with Soverdi. In 2023, 671 trees were planted in the boroughs of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Ville-Marie and Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles, as well as in the municipality of Contrecœur. To achieve this, the teams chose sites in schools, health and education centres, including Louis-Dupire, Jean-Baptiste Meilleur and Daniel-Johnson schools, as well as the Colonie Sainte-Jeanne d’Arc de Contrecœur, and selected a variety of species that included oaks, spruce, birch, maple, poplar, pine and lime, as well as fruit trees such as plum, apple, cherry and serviceberry.

Controlling invasive plant species

Through its partnership with the St. Lawrence Action Fund, the Port of Montreal began to support a new biodiversity preservation and enhancement project, a characterization and inventory study of invasive exotic plant species (EVEE) on the Tailhandier tidal flats (GBT) and Île Verte island sectors. Tackling the scourge of invasive exotic plant species, which spread rapidly through natural environments and harm local biodiversity, this project will make it possible to accurately measure invasive species colonies and set up action plans to combat and control the various colonies.

Open to the community

The Port of Montreal actively fosters harmonious relations with the communities in which it operates, near its facilities in Montreal and in Contrecœur alike. While maintaining an open dialogue with citizens and local organizations, over the course of the year we strengthened our community engagement policy, built new bridges with First Nations and initiated promising projects to improve the city-port interface.

Community commitment

Every year, the Port of Montreal supports about 60 projects by community organizations in the neighbourhoods adjacent to its facilities. In 2023, 55 requests for financial support from organizations were accepted, and four partnership agreements were in place.

With a view to forging lasting partnerships with local organizations and increasing its positive social impact, the MPA updated its Community Engagement Policy. A number of adjustments were made, including the priority now given to young people, persons living in poverty, First Nations and communities adjacent to the Port of Montreal and the Contrecœur sector; the choice of three target sectors, namely the socio-economic development of Montreal, the Contrecœur region and First Nations; support for the training and development of young people; and the fight against climate change.

Charter of Collaboration with Indigenous Peoples

In a significant move to consolidate and sustain ongoing relations, the Port of Montreal worked with three First Nations to create a Charter of Collaboration with Indigenous Peoples. Written jointly with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawàk:e, the W8banaki Nation represented by the Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-Aki, and the Council of the Huron-Wendat Nation, the charter lays the foundations for a strong, sound cooperation agreement. The purpose of the charter is to foster dialogue, listening and consultation on projects to improve port facilities and Port of Montreal activities.

An open port

Every year, Port of Montreal facilities are the site of choice for numerous visits and events. In 2023, 195 events were organized at the MPA head office and 1,858 visitors were welcomed to tour the scale model room and Port facilities, including representatives from marine and non-marine industry businesses, the political sector, academia and other industry sectors. Highlights included the Port of Montreal’s annual client reception, the launch of the L’économie sociale, j’achète ! event, and an open house dedicated to Port of Montreal lessees. MPA teams also took part in numerous external visits and tours. Among the highlights: the Port of Montreal became the first Canadian port to address the International Maritime Organization to promote the role of ports in decarbonizing our ecosystem; the Port’s presence at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention to highlight the importance of supply chains and the role of ports in community development; and partnering with the FCCQ on an 11-region manufacturing tour to promote the manufacturing sector and support exports.

At the Grand Quay, 2023 was marked by an all-time high of 532,245 visitors, up an impressive 44% from the previous year, including 24,335 visitors to the Port of Montreal Tower and 26,311 to the All aboard! exhibition. The Grand Quay’s rental spaces were occupied for the equivalent of 306 days over the course of the year. Key events included Startup Montréal, the Montreal Climate Summit and the Plural Contemporary Art Fair.

As for the annual Port in the City event, the Port of Montreal’s content-rich container was on the move for 25 days of events in various neighbourhoods near our facilities in Montreal and Contrecœur, attracting about 3,500 visitors. The Port of Montreal also organized 12 bus tours of its facilities for the community. In all, some 450 people were able to board one of the buses and tour a container terminal.

On the media front, there were 65,233 subscribers to our social media platforms, 7,515 subscribers to Port of Montreal newsletters, 2,265,703 visits to our website, including 58,594 visits to our news and current affairs pages, and 16,347 mentions of the Port of Montreal in the media. In all, 900+ social media posts, 23 press releases, 50 news items and 2 Logbook magazines were released.

City-port Interface

In its continuing efforts to blend harmoniously into the urban landscape, the Port of Montreal strengthened its collaboration with the City of Montreal to improve the urban port environment by together signing the 2030 Agenda of the Worldwide Network of Port Cities (AIVP). This signed commitment increases collaboration and joint projects between both institutions, fostering sustainable growth and harmonious cohabitation with port activities while contributing to the city’s economic competitiveness and energy transition.

Promenade Bickerdike

The Montreal Port Authority began to develop on an urban promenade along its facilities in the Cité-du-Havre sector. The project includes a pedestrian pathway, a balustrade, plantings, street furniture and information panels on port activities. Representing a total investment of $2.5 million, this project is part of the MPA’s broader commitment to responsibly develop its territory, improve the urban landscape around its facilities and raise public awareness of port activities.

Public art at the Grand Quay

A new work of public art was installed in front of the Port of Montreal Tower: Linda Covit’s sculptural installation Hydrospheres, inspired by the theme of water as a tribute to the St. Lawrence River. Three semi-transparent structures positioned on the site of the artwork suggest spherically-shaped drops of water momentarily compressed as they reach the pier. During the summer months, a water effect that disperse mist completes the installation.

An enormous Bonjour structure was installed on the green roof. Over two metres high and 15 metres wide, this installation adds a new dimension to the warm welcome visitors to the city receive and provides a distinctive landmark. with letters made in Montreal from wood harvested from ash trees felled because of the emerald ash borer.

Team and governance

Employee well-being, engagement and equity are among the MPA’s core values in managing its team. To this end, the MPA strives to improve health and safety in the workplace, encourage employee involvement in the community, and lay the foundations for an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Workforce profile

As of December 31, 2023, the MPA had 272 full-time employees. Of these, 32.4% were women and 67.6% were men. The predominantly female job categories were clerical (54.3%) along with non-unionized administrative support and human resources (58.3%). Male-dominated jobs were blue-collar workers (93.9%), railway operations (87%), professional and technical (62.8%), seafarers (100%), and management (61.4%). Furthermore, 12.1% of MPA employees identify themselves as members of a visible minority. It is noteworthy that 14.3% of hires in 2023 were members of a visible minority.

Actively engaged employees

MPA employees participated in a range of commitment-oriented and volunteer activities: delivering Christmas baskets to the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Collective Kitchen and the Guignolée de Contrecœur; sports activities such as the Défi kayak for Jeunes musiciens du monde and the MS Bike Tour for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada; shoreline clean-up operations in Montreal and Contrecœur, and the design and construction of furniture for the Colonie Sainte-Jeanne d’Arc de Contrecœur.

OHS

The MPA’s efforts to promote a culture of occupational health and safety continued in 2023, with a record run of 243 consecutive days without a workplace accident, and only two accidents reported during the year. To further strengthen the safety and well-being of its employees, several new initiatives were rolled out, including enhanced training, development of a standardized hazardous materials management procedure, training for supervisors on the process of reporting events and following up corrective measures, the purchase of Cognibox software, and the introduction of MPA and contractor induction training. The MPA also purchased and implemented an EpiPen procedure in all of its office locations, and developed a process for analyzing contractors’ accident prevention programs in line with federal and provincial occupational health and safety standards.

Major projects

Mission, vision and values